Dr Helena Niedinger

to pursue a happy and fulfilling life. Strong emotions can be effectively resolved within a few sessions through the therapeutic methods which dr.Niedinger utilizes within an Ericksonian and Ego-State therapeutic framework. ACUTE AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS

Some people have experienced a traumatic childhood which left them with low self-esteem and depression and an inability to meet the challenges of life. Others experience trauma in adulthood such as a robbery, hijacking, domestic violence, a car accident, a serious illness or the loss of a child or family member. All types of trauma leave a lasting imprint on our central nervous system and on our ability to relax and to be our authentic self. All types of trauma need to be addressed by helping the individual’s brain and nervous system to process the trauma in order to return to a normal, relaxed physiological and emotional state. Dr.Niedinger utilizes hypnotherapeutic and SE techniques (“Somatic Experiencing”) to enable individuals to resolve their trauma and regain control of their lives. ADDICTION

Addiction develops when the individual experiences intense negative emotions like anxiety or depression and has no coping techniques or solution to resolve these negative emotions. Addiction often develops when an individual experienced trauma and continues to struggle with negative feelings as a result of the trauma not being resolved. In desperation the person then tries to escape from these negative feelings (or numbs them) by “self-medicating” with alcohol, drugs, prescription medication, food, gambling or po*******hy and gets lured into a destructive cycle of addiction. Dr. Niedinger acquired valuable experience in the complex field of addiction while she worked at a psychiatric hospital (Riverfield Lodge) and pay it forward by helping addicts and their families to break free from this destructive cycle by addressing the feelings underlying the addiction and changing their lifestyles. ANXIETY STATES

Anxiety and anxiety-related conditions, such as phobic disorder, panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) count amongst the most uncomfortable conditions an individual can suffer from. With anxiety the body and central nervous system is constantly hyper-activated and in a heightened state of arousal which create symptoms of great discomfort such as rapid heartbeat and respiration, tightness in the chest, gastro-intestinal discomfort, nausea and stiffness and tension in the muscles. In the case of panic attacks the anxiety can increase to such an extent that the individual experiences dizziness, shaking and a sense of losing control. Anxiety which goes untreated is very debilitating to the individual since people tend to avoid those places, objects and activities which create anxiety in them and these self-imposed restrictions prevent them from living a fulfilling life. Enduring anxiety is also very detrimental to the human body due to the release of stress hormones (such as cortisol and adrenaline) and the associated heightened arousal levels which suppress the immune system. Dr. Niedinger utilizes very effective brain- and relaxation techniques in her treatment of anxiety conditions and she has a successful record of helping individuals overcome their addiction to sedatives and tranquilizers. SELF-IMAGE AND SELF-VALUE

The most important relationship in any individual’s life is the relationship with yourself. Our self-image is developed during our formative years primarily through the influence of our parents and since many parents are not emotionally mature and substantially present in their children’s lives many people grow up with a negative self-image, self-hatred and self-blame. When parents do not provide adequate acceptance, support, unconditional love and emotional safety and security to their child the child will grow up to believe he/she is not good enough. Dr.Niedinger helps teenagers and adults with a negative self-image to discover their authentic selves and not to base their identities on destructive feedback from their past or their environment. An adult has the power to choose whom he/she wants to be and to transform this ideal self into reality. MARITAL AND RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS

Humans are social beings by nature and extensive research (“the Happiness-index”) has shown that people’s happiness are closely related to their social relationships which provide to them an identity, a sense of belonging, safety and security. The opposite is also true, when the quality of close relationships become negative and there is a lack of intimacy, personal wellbeing and happiness decline. Dr.Niedinger helps couples to remove obstacles in their communication and to achieve higher levels of emotional and physical intimacy which improve their happiness in their relationships. SPIRITUAL CONCERNS

Dr.Niedinger, who is also a minister, helps believing individuals to approach their lives and problems from a Christian, spiritual perspective. Individuals who experience stress and trauma reach out to God for help and often question why these negative experiences happen to them. They wonder where God is in their suffering and often struggle to find answers to difficult spiritual questions. Dr.Niedinger provides spiritual guidance concerning God and his will for our lives from her Theological background. Dr.Niedinger also assists individuals who experience problems around their sexual orientation and homosexual individuals to develop self-acceptance, a more integrated life and intimate relationship with God. EATING DISORDERS

Dr.Niedinger has extensive experience in the treatment of Anorexia and Bulimia. Eating disorders are very complex by nature and it is essential that the family of the individual with the eating disorder becomes involved in the therapy process for the treatment to be successful. Therapy for eating disorders is time consuming and dr.Niedinger focuses on addressing several aspects: the individual’s self-image, depression, self-perception, intense anxiety to gain weight, feeling out of control and regaining control and balance, and a conflict between one part of the individual that wants to remain thin and is terrified of gaining weight and another part of the individual that wants to get healthy and realizes that gaining weight is part of the healing process.